Funnel.



Patented Aug. 18, 1914.

J. H. FREDERICK. TUNNEL.

APPLIoATloH rILEn Nov. '1, 1912. 1,107,774.

s PETERS Ca. IHcaTcI-LITHFL WASHINGIUN. D l.'v

JOHN H. FREDERICK, OF CASPER, W YOMING.

FUNNEL.

Speeication of Letters Patent.

Patented A113218, 1914.

Application filed November 7, 1912. Serial No. 730,077.

To all whom it may concer/n Be it known that I, JOHN H. FREDERICK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Casper, in the county of Natrona and State of l/Vyoming, have invented new and useful Improvements in Funnels, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to tunnels.

One object of my invention is to provide an improved Jform of funnel having means that will automatically close the same when a vessel or receptacle has been filled.

Another object of the invention is to provide means to lock or retain the funnel-cl0s ing means in closed position so that any remaining fluid in the funnel will be retained therein while the funnel is removed from one receptacle and placed in another.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a tube or the equivalent through which air may be forced as the liquid passes into the receptacle, so as to facilitate its passage thereinto.

Other objects of the invention will appear hereinafter from the description 'following taken in connection with the drawings accompanying this application, in which drawings Figure 1 is a vertical sectional View of a funnel constructed in accordance with my invention, the same being closed and in place in the neck of the bottle; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view on the line 2--2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1, and; Fig. 4 is a plan view illustrating the locking means for the rod of the float employed.

Like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring specifically to the drawings, the funnel is shown applied or in use in a receptacle, in this instance shown as a bottle, of which 1 designates the neck.

The funnel body which may be designated generally as 2, is of usual shape and consists of the spout 3, from which extends the flared portion 4 which terminates in a vertical wall 5. Around or over the spout 3, is slipped or provided a sleeve 6 preferably of' cork, by means of which the funnel may be brought into tight relation with the bottle neck. Either exterior or interior of the funnel and secured in a suitable manner the walls thereof, is a tube desigopen at both ends, and at against nated 7 which is its upper end preferably crooked as at 8. At the base of the spout 3 may be provided flanges or lugs 9 having openings therein through which may be passed and beyond the same bent or clenched, a substantially U-shaped wire 10.

Numeral 11 designates a float which may be of wood, cork or other suitable material. Said float is of less diameter than the diameter oi the cork (i and is provided with enlarged openings or slots 12, in which are received side or float-guide arms of the wire 10 which may be designated 13. To the cork is secured in any suitable manner, a rod such as 14 which rises therefrom and is preferably mounted centrally of the funnel. Adjacent the top of the funnel is secured in any suitable manner, a cross bar 15 having an opening 17 through and beyond which the rod 1 4 extends. The bar 15 is secured in place in any suitable manner, as by soldering end lugs 16 to the wall 5.

The rod 14 is provided with a notch 18 to produce a shoulder' adapted to engage the bar 15 at the opening 17. Upon the bar 15 is riveted at 19, or otherwise secured, a leaf` spring 20, preferably of weak tension. The spring 2O normally forces the rod 14 in a direction that will efl'ect engagement of the shoulder of rod 14 at notch 18 with the bar 15, at the opening 17.

In use, while liuid is passing through the funnel, the float 11 is in the position suggested by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, and the rod 14 accordingly in such position as the shoulder and notch 1S disengage from and below the bar 15. It will thus be seen that when the float is in the position just referred to, that there is an opening between the spout 3 and the float, and between the tloat and wall of the bottle neck through which the liquid may pass to the interior of the bottle.

As the liquid passes to the interior of the bottle, its passage is assisted by air` drawn in through the opening of tube 7. Should the liquid being poured into the bottle be of such nature that it would foam, foam forming adjacent the lower end of the spout would rise or pass up through the tube 7 and return or flow into the flared portion 4 of the body of the funnel at the crook 8. Upon the bottle being filled, the liquid therein, by its rising action will bear against the fioat 11 and accordingly raise the same by sliding movement on the side arms 13, so

that the float Will bear directly against the edge at the base of the spout, thereby closing the funnel at said spout. During such movement of the float, the rod 14 is moved a corresponding extent and in so doing, the notchy .18 is moved to such position that its shoulder will engage the bar l5 at the opening 17 through the pressure of the spring 20; thereby automatically locking the oat in funnelnclosing or raised position. It Will be seen that by locking the float in this position, the funnel With the contained liquid, may be removed from one receptacle and placed into another Without spilling or leakage of the contents thereof.

As merely the preferred embodiment of invention has been shown, it is to be understood that changes in the details of construction may be made providing they fall Within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my said invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is.:-

l. A funnel including a spout, a substantially U-shaped Wire having its ends fastened to the said spout, a oat slidable on said Wire, the connecting portions ofthe Wire acting as a support for the said float, a rod secured to the said float and extending upwardly therefrom, the said rod having a notch formed therein near the top thereof a cross bar having an opening through which said rod extends, and means carried by said bar adapted to engage the said rod to maintain the said rod against an edge of the bar at said opening and to force the rod into position With said notch in engagement with the said bar, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. A funnel including a spout, a sleeve arranged to embrace the said spout, a substantially U-shaped Wire having its ends fastened to the said. spout at the lower end thereof, a float slidable on said Wire, the connecting portion of the said Wire acting as a support for the said float, a rod extending vertically from the said float, the said rod having a notch formed therein near the top thereof, a cross bar carried by the said funnel having an opening formed therein intermediate its ends through which the said rod extends, a spring carried by the said bar adapted to engage the said rod to maintain the latter in engagement with the said bar to force the said rod until the notch engages the said bar, and a tubular member disposed Within the said funnel extending from the top to the bottom thereof to form an air passageway, as and for the purpose set forth.

' JoHN H. FREDERICK. Vitnesses:

E. D. NORTON, Zon MARKS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

